Diseases

Fusarium ear and stalk rot of maize

Zea mays L. subsp. mays (Maize Group)

A complex disease of maize caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium, which manifests as ear rot, stalk and root rots, as well as seedling blight.

In the reference 295 varieties crop Maize, where this is mentioned in the description.

The disease is caused by fungi of the Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium graminearum complexes, as well as the species Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium culmorum, and Fusarium poae. Fusarium ear rot is characterized by the appearance of a white, pale pink, or orange fungal growth, causing the kernels to lose their luster and become brittle.

Stalk and root rots develop after flowering, leading to softening of the stalk pith, premature wilting of the leaves, and plant lodging. In the case of seedling blight, seeds either fail to germinate or produce weakened sprouts covered with mycelium.

Resistance of maize to this disease is polygenic and complex. In breeding practice, it is assessed using a scoring scale or as a relative level of resistance, since resistance genes lack a standardized nomenclature and molecular markers are still in the research stage.

General information about the subject — on the page Fusarium wilt and blight.

Sources8

Varieties of Maize mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.